Robert dixon



(No'MOdelJ v R. DIXON. ANIMAL SHEARS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1889.

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N. PEI'ERS, Photo-Ulhagraphar. Wuhinglnn. or.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT DIXON, OF SYDNEY, ASSIGNOR TO TOTTENHAM LEE RICHARDSON, OF MURRAWVOOMBIE, NEAR NYNGAN, NEW SOUTH WALES.

ANlMAL-SHEARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,352, dated September 3, 1889.

Application filed May 31, 1888. Serial No. 275,687. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ROBERT DIXON, a citizen of New South Wales, Australia, residing at George Street, Sydney, in the Colony of 5 New South Wales, Australia, have invented an Improved Apparatus for Shearing Sheep, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sheep-shears; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a sheep-shearing apparatus to work with a revolving cutter,with all r the attachments thereto. Fig. 2 shows a plan of the underneath surface of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of Fig. 1 in section, showing the casin g, the driving-gear for working the knife, the disengaging-spring, the lockinggear, the

comb, the friction-rollers, the revolving knife, and the adjustable center-pin which keeps the knife upon the comb while the machine is working. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are different forms of revolving cutters to be used in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 7 is a plan showing the flexible connecting-arm with the endless belt and rollers for guiding the same when the machine is working, inclosed with a protecting-casing. Fig. 8 is an- 0 other View of the same, showing the method of attaching the guide-rollers to the flexible arm and connecting the endless belt with the driving-shaft and the shearing apparatus. Fig. 9 is an end View of the flexible connecting-arm, showing the guide-rollers and end less belt. Fig.10 is asketch of the apparatus fixed ready for actual work.

Like letters indicate the same parts through out the drawings.

.0 Referring to the drawings by letter, A is the lower casin g.

B are the steel blades forming the comb, and are secured to the under side of the easing with screws J.

O is the upper and movable part of the easing, hinged at K to allow the parts to separate when disconnected.

D is a grooved pulley attached to the spindle F.

E isa pinion or friction-wheel, also attached to spindle F.

E and E are pinions or friction-wheels secured to the ends of the shaft or spindle G, which is secured to the upper casing in the bearings L.

M is the revolving cutter; N, the center-pin for holding same 5 O, a pinion or friction-wheel for. driving the cutter M, and having a collar for securing the knife 'when made in two parts.

P is a nut on the end of the center-pin N, for securing the friction wheel 0 and the knife M.

Q is an adjustable steel center-pin, which presses upon the end of the pin N when the machine is working and keeps theknife down upon the comb. i

R are friction-rollers placed under the knife to reduce the friction.

H is the locking-latch, against which the free end of the spring I rests for locking the two parts of the casing together.

S is the spring to raise the upper part of the casing when the locking-gear H I is released.

T is a distance-pin to regulate the opening of the casing when the apparatus is disconnected.

Fig. ishowsa straight-edged circular revolving cutter of star pattern to be'use'd in my ap- 8o p'aratus. I make this cutter in two parts for convenience when placing it upon or removing it from the spindle N, (shown in Fig. 3,) the parts being secured by small screws passing through the collar 9. WVhen the knife is placed in position, the collar 9 is inclosed by the collar which forms part of the friction-, pinion 0 described in Fig. 3. The number of blades to this cutter may be varied.

Fig. 5 shows another form of circular revolving cutter having a concave cutting-edge. This is also made in two parts, similar to that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a circular revolving cutter havinga convex cutting-edge. It is also made 5 in two parts, and otherwise is similar to the cutters shown in Figs. 4 and 5. I preferably make these cutters of shear-steel.

Referring to Figs. 7, S, and 9, h is a piece of vulcanized india-rubber or other flexible material, round in form, and for ordinary purposes in most cases about five feet long, the length, however, being immaterial.

t' and t" are sheaves for holding the griprollers j, and are secured at the extreme ends of the flexible connecting-arm h by means of the pins 70. The sheaves t' have flanges i by which they are securely bolted to the driving end of the apparatus, and also to the bearing of the motion-shaft at the other extremity.

Z are small sheaves placed atintervals along the arm h, having guide-rollers j on their outer, ends to guide the endless band m, which transmits the motion from the driving-shaft to the apparatus. These sheaves are secured by bolts k in a similar manner to the sheaves t'.

The endless band m, I construct, preferably, of green hide or catgut, circular in form, and about one-eighth of an inch in diameter, the exact size or shape not being essential. This endless band passes around the grooved pulley at, fixed on the driving-shaft, then between the grip-rollers j, which are on one side of the sheaves t", and then under the outer rollers j, which are, as stated, placed at intervals along the flexible arm 7L, and then between the grip-rollers of the sheaves .6, which are attached to the driving end of the apparatus, thence around the grooved pulley D, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) and again between the grip-rollers on the other side of the sheaves 'i, and thence under the outer rollers of the sheaves Z, and, lastly, through the grip-rollers on the other side of the sheaves t" to the grooved pulley n, fixed on the driving-shaft. By means of the griprollers j an effective strain or tension is maintained on the endless belt m, and by means of the rollers j the said belt is preserved in a position equidistant from the center of the flexible arm h during the varying movements made by the operator when working the apparatus. The arm h, being constructed, as stated, of india-rubber or other flexible mate rial, will adapt itself to any motion of the operator in performing the process of sheepshearing. I surround the whole mechanism with a protecting-cover of some flexible material, preferably an ordinary india-rubber tube.

Fig. 10 is a sketch showing the complete apparatus as inclosed in the casing attached to the side of a sheep-shearing shed, as it would be when in actual use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination, with a casing provided with acomb, of a revolving cutter, a flexible arm secured to and projecting from the easing, a pulley in the casing, an endless belt traveling around the flexible arm and passing around the pulley, and intermediate mechanism between the pulley and cutter, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a casing provided with a comb, of a revolving cutter, a grooved pulley in the casing, intermediate mechanism between the pulley and cutter, a flexible arm projecting from the casing, guide-rollers arranged on the flexible arm, and an endless belt passing around the said pulley and traveling around the flexible arm under the guiderollers, .substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a casing provided with the blades or teeth B, of the revolving cutter M, the bevel gear-wheel O on the journal of the cutter, the longitudinal shaft G, provided with the bevel gear-wheels E E the transverse shaft 'F, provided with the bevel gear-wheel E and pulley D, and the belt on, passing around the said pulley, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination, with the lower part A of the casing, the revolving cutter M, the gear-wheel O on the journal of the cutter, and the transverse shaft F, provided with the gearwheel E, of the upper hinged part C, provided with the bearin gs L, and the shaft G, journaled in the said bearings and provided with the gear-wheels E E substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination, with a casing provided with a comb, a revolving cutter, a pulley, and intermediate mechanism between the pulley and cutter, of a flexible arm secured to the casing, guide-rollers carried by the said arm, an endless belt passing around the pulley and traveling around the flexible arm under the guide-rollers thereof, and a flexible covering for the said arm, guide-rollers, and belt, substantially as described.

The foregoing specification of my improvements in sheep'shearing apparatus signed by me this 2d day of March, 1888.

- R. DIXON.

IVitnesses:

HENRY HIGHAM, E. OooKs, Clerks to Geo. A. Dehesso, Solicitor, Sydney,

New South IVaZes. 

